5 Perks of Going Back to School in Your Golden Years

This article was created by Shirley Martin of TidyLifeToday.com. Thanks Shirley!        Photo via Pexels

Maybe you’ve recently retired, and you feel a bit lost. Even if you’re happy to have so much more free time, you don’t quite know how to fill all of those hours. Or perhaps you’re preparing financially for retirement with guidance from EYIM, and you’re trying to set some goals for the next stage of your life. If there’s a subject you want to learn more about, going back to school could be a great idea! Here’s how earning a degree as a retiree can help you step into a second career in teaching, expand your social circle, and grant you purpose in this new chapter. 

Pursue a Teaching Career

Many seniors enjoy working part-time in retirement. You’ve accumulated so much wisdom and knowledge over the past few decades – and now, you might be interested in becoming a teacher or professor so that you can pass it on. If you go back to school and get a bachelor of science in education, you’ll learn all about the best instructional practices for your favorite subject. You’ll also take classes on learner development and other important topics. By choosing an online degree program, you can save money and easily complete your coursework on your own schedule.

Structure Your Days

When you worked full-time, your days were structured around your job. Now, without a work schedule to determine your routines, you might feel disorganized or unmotivated. It can be tough to design your own schedule in retirement and hold yourself accountable to self-imposed routines. But when you have classes to attend and assignments with deadlines, you’ll have an easier time sticking to a productive schedule.

Avoid Cognitive Decline

You might be worried about experiencing cognitive decline as the years go on. Thankfully, committing yourself to lifelong learning can help you keep your mind sharp, even in your golden years! Discover Magazine states that reading and learning languages are powerful strategies for staving off cognitive decline. If you go back to school, you’ll be engaging your brain every day!

Make New Friends

When you worked full-time, you saw your coworkers every day. You probably had a few close friends and lots of acquaintances at your job who you had known for years. Now, you might feel a little lonely without those social interactions, especially if most of your friends haven’t retired yet and can’t spend time with you during the week. By going back to school, you can meet new friends in your classes and get to know your professors!

Find a Sense of Purpose

Lots of retirees struggle to find a sense of purpose once they’re done working. Thankfully, there are lots of ways to live a meaningful life in retirement. Kiplinger states that if you’re seeking purpose in retirement, you should consider what you want to be remembered for and let go of the idea that your finances determine your value as a person. Even if you’re not earning a degree to make money, learning new skills will allow you to pass down your knowledge and cement your legacy. You could be a teacher, mentor, or wise friend to the younger people in your life.

Learning doesn’t have to stop at a certain age. You can make time for continuous learning throughout your life – and retirement is the perfect opportunity to head back to school. Whether you want to earn a teaching degree online, prevent cognitive decline, or simply make new friends who share your interests, becoming a student in retirement might be the right choice for you.

Are you looking for tips on financial planning and investing for retirement? EYIM can help you succeed as a real estate investor! Fill out the contact form on our website today to get started.